Folder for sewing-machines.



1. R. MOFFAITT.

FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 26,1912.

7 I 1,16%??? Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

WITNESSES 1 4 3 2 MW; MZ?

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' JAMES R. MOFFATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIALMACHINE t me.

COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDER FQB SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 11, 11916.

Application filed February 26, 1912. Serial No. 679,979.

. To all whom it may concern inverts the stripas it is delivered tostitching mechanism. I

Be it known that I, JAMES R. MOFFATT, a citizen of' the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folders for SewingMachines, of which the following is a description, reference being hadto the accom- An object of the invention is to provide a folder which isso constructed that it is capable of folding a strip with one side faceof the strip much wider than the other, and the inverting and deliveringof the strip to the stitching mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folder of theabovecharacter, with a separating device for separating and supportinthe upper face of the bindin strip as it passes from the folder to theStItClllIl mechanism,-whereby afree space is formed beneathsaidseparating plate, for a body fabric so that an elastic fabric may beled beneath said separating plate to the stitching mechanism, where thebinding strip is applied to the elastic fabric, Without stretch ing ofthe elastic fabric.

These and other objects willin part be obvious, and will in part behereinafter more fully described;

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of theinvention: Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a folder having myimprovements applied thereto, and also the arrangement of the folderrelativeto-the stitching mechanism, and the devices for feeding thefolded strip and body fabric to the stitching mechanism; Fig. 2'is aperspective view showing the manner of folding a strip andpositionmachine.

through" the folder.

the separating plate being removed, andthe supporting shank for thefolder sectioned.

In carrying out the invention, I have provided a folder which isattached to a supporting shank 1, that may be screwed or otherwisesecured to the bed plate of the Said folder consists of spaced plates 2and 3, which are arranged at their receiving end so as to form anL-shaped passage 4, one part of which is substantially horizontal, andthe other part of which is substantially vertical. The vertical portionof said passage 4, is much shorter than the horizontal portion. Theplate 2, at the .receiving end of the folder, extends beyond the plate3, and a tension finger 5 is adapted to bearagainst the strip as itpasses along the plate 2. Said tension finger is formed with an openingthrough which passes a post 6, around which is placed a spring 7. Saidspring bears against the finger to press the same against the 'materialpassing The tension of the spring 7 is controlled by suitable nuts. 'The plates 2 and 3 as they approach the delivery end of the folder, areshaped so as to fold the edge of the strip back upon the 'body portionof the strip.

The plate 2 at the delivery end of the folder, extends around the edgeof the plate 3, and. forms the folding passages 8, 8, for the edges ofthe fabric. The plates 2 and 3 are also gradually bent so as to fold thefab ric intermediate its edges, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. This bentportion in the plates 2 and 3, is so disposed that one face of thefolded strip is much wider than the other face-of the folded strip. Thefolder is attached to the sewing machine so that the longitudinal axisof the folder is at right as it leaves the delivery end of the folder,is

therefore, inverted as it passes to the stitching mechanism in a mannerwell known in this type of folder- This inverting of the folded stripbrings the folded edges of the strip against the faces of the bodymaterial.

In Fig. 2, I have shown a strip of fabric 9, the edges of which at 10and 11, are folded back upon the body part of the strip, and the stripis folded intermediate its edges as at 12, so that when the strip isinverted and positioned relative to a body fabric 13, there is arelatively narrow faceli on the the plates 2 and 3. Said fingers serveas a presser foot.

guide for the edge of the strip as it is inverted and led from thefolder. In order to further guide the strip as it passes to thestitching mechanism, Ihave provided an edge guide 18 which is located inrear of the folder and is adjustably secured'to' the shank supportingthe folder, by screws 20 which pass through a slotted shank 21 connectedto the edge guide. Said edge guide 18 is formed with an overhanging lip'22.

In order to support the upper edge of the binding strip, and hold thesame away from the lower part of the folder, I have provided aseparating plate 23 which ISIPIV". oted at 24' to a block 25, carried bythe shank of the folder. This separating plate is formed with anarc-shaped slot 26, and a pin 27 carried by the block, enters said slotand limits the swinging movement of said separating plate. Saidseparating plate is adapted to extend underneath the overhanging lip 22of the edge guide. The upper face of the binding strip will be supportedby this separating plate, and thereby a free passage is formedunderneath the separating plate, so that an elastic fabric may be ledthrough said passage, without any retarding effect of the folder on saidelastic fabric. The block 25 may serve as an edge guide for the elasticfabric. This separating plate, together with the-edge guide andoverhanging lip, also serves to maintain the fold in the edge of thestrip as it passes to the stitching mechanism. There is between thedelivering end of the upper edge of the folder and the presser footconsiderable distance. Unless means is provided for main taining thefold in the edge of the fabric, it will uncurl before it reaches thepresser foot. The means above referred to accomplishes this result.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have shown the arrangement of the binderrelative to the presser foot 28 of the sewing machine. Said binder is sopositioned as to extend in front of the presser foot, and deliver thefolded binding strip underneath the presser foot. The edge guide 18extends into a notch at the forward end of the presser foot, so thattheedge of the binding strip is guided until it has passed underneath theThis edge guide and overhanging lip 22 serve as a means for maintainingthe folded-over edge of the binding strip, and presenting the same tothe upper face of the body erably positioned slightly.in front of thepresser foot, so that a differential feed foot may operate upon theelastic material only in advance of the presser foot.

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided afolder which is capable of folding a strip of fabric, turning in the rawedges thereof, and presenting said strip to the stitching mechanism, sothat when the strip is stitched to a body fabric, one of its faceswilloverlap the body fabric to a greater extent than the other, therebyforming a facing strip for the body fabric and a binding for the edge ofthe body fabric.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction may bemade, with out departing from the spirit of the invention as set forthin the appended claims.

Having thus particularly described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- 1. A. folder for sewingmachines, said folder including a body portion having spaced guidingwalls shaped so as to fold a strip between its edges, said folder beinglocated at an angle to the line of feed and having its delivery end cutaway, whereby said strip may be inverted,' said folder at one side ofthe central plane thereof being wider than at the other, so that oneface of fabric.- The folder is prefthe folded strip when guided throughthe folder may be wider than the other, and means independent of thefolder extending between the faces of the folded strip after it leavesthe folder for guiding and maintaining the fold in said strip.

2. A folder for sewing machines, said folder including a body portionhaving spaced guiding walls shaped so as to fold a strip betweenitsedges, said folder being located at an angle to the line of feed andhaving its delivery end cut away, whereby said strip may be inverted,said folder at one side of the central plane thereof being wider than atthe other, so that one face of the folded strip when guided through thefolder may be wider than the other, means independent of the folderextending between the faces of the folded strip after it leaves thefolder for guiding and maintaining the fold in said strip, and means forangle to the longitudinal axis of the folder,

and a separating plate for supporting the upper folded edge of the stripafter the same" passes from the folder.

angle to the longitudinal axis of the folder,

and a separatingplate for supporting the upper folded edge of the stripafter the same passes from the folder, means for pivotallysupporting'said separating plate,

and a stop for limiting the swinging movement thereof;

5. A folder for sewing machines, including means for folding a stripwith oneface thereof wider than theother and for fold-"j ing in theedges of the strip, and for inverting said folded strip whereby the sameis led from the folder ina direction at an angle to thelongitudinal axisof the folder, an a 'separatlng'plate for supporting the upper foldededge of the strip as it passes from the folder, said separating platebeing spaced from the "lower part of the folder, whereby a bodyfabricniay be led tinderneath vsaid separating plate;

6. A folder for sewing machines, including means for folding a stripwith one face thereof wider than the other, and means for invertingsaid. folded strip, whereby it may.

be led from the folder in a direction at an angle to 'the longitudinalaxis of the folder, an overhanging lip for maintaining the edgefoldedafter it leaves'the folder, and

a. separating plate extending underneath said overhangingi lip forsupporting the folded edge after it leaves the folder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

. JAMES R. 'MOFFATT. Witnesses:

A. B. CLOTHIER, C. M0NEIL.

